【问】 My new house is half as large again as my old one.

[原译]我的新房子是我的旧房的一半大。(《最新高级英汉词典》，商务印书馆，1995年，P.18)

如果A is half as large again as B真是指“A是B的一半大”，那么A is half as large as B又是什么意思呢?难道它们是同义表达手段吗?

【答】 看来，上面的误译不是因疏忽造成的，而是因误解造成的。A is n times as large(much，many，long，tall)as B意为A是B的n倍大(多、长、高)，因此，A is half as large(much，many，long，tall)意为A是B的一半大(多、长、高)。A is n times(half) as large(much，many，long，tall)again则是A比B大(多、长、高)n倍(一半)，可见，有无again，意思截然不同，请看下面的实例：

1. These shoes cost me as much again as the last pair I bought. (Whitford)

买这双鞋比上次买的那双鞋多花了一倍的钱。

2. We have turned out half as much coal again as they.

我们出产的煤比他们多半倍。

(参见as much as，as many/as many again)